Cigar-machine.



BEST VLBLE' COPY J. D. LACROIX.

man MACHINE. A APPLIOATION FILED IEB.12, 1902. RENEWED NOV. 21, 1902. 1,O70,8 1 8.

uw r/a J. D. LACROIX.

CIGAR MACHINE. 4 APPLICATION FILED 121313.12, 1902. RENEWED Nov. n1,1'902. 1,070,81 8.

Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ASM/@Ax Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J. D. LACROIX.

GIGAR MACHINE. v

APPLICATION FILED 11:13.12, 1902. RENEWED Nov. 21, 1902. 1,070,818.

Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

'I SHEETS-SHEET 4.

J. D. LACROIX.

GIGAR MACHINE. APPLIGATION FILED :FBB.12, 1902. BENEWBD Nov. 21, 1902.

Patented Allg. 19, 1913.

'I SHEETS-SHEET 5.

., Q r 1, m w mm 1S .@H. 1.. IHN m .w1 2.5mm/ SQ, 1 1%.). u \W\\\\\\\\\\\.Jw www @mi SH? It M W Wx wm. %N. N W ...xk J, EQ. QN .QN 1% 1.EN MW Km wm H @$1 .1 e. @@Nw SN. N n V.. 7 v \m. 11

J. D. LACROIX.

IGAR MACHINE. APPLIUATION FILED 11:13.12, 1902. RENEWBD Nov. 21, 1902.

1 ,670,8 1 8, Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

[I j@ if i '96 19995 vez *or J. D. LACROIX.

CIGAR MACHINE. APPLIGATION FILED nmz, 1902. RENEWED Nov. 21, 1902.

y 1,070,818, v Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

stm

n lag fiez/25502! UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIcE.

JOSEPH n. Laciioix, or NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, AssiGNn To EUGENE H.DAVIS,

or' NEW YORK, N. Y.. y

cieaiifiracmNE.

specification of Letters ratent. Patend Aug, 19, 1913,

Application led February 12, 1902, Serial No. 93,765. Renewed November21.*., 1902. Serial In. 182,886.

To all whom z't may concern.' i p .Be it known that I, JOSEPH D.'Lacroix,

a citizen of the United States, residing at New Orleans, in the pai-ishof Orleans1V and State of Louisiana, have invented newv and usefulImprovements in Cigar-Machines, of which the following is'.aspecification.

My invention relates to apparatus for the manufacture of cigars,cheroots and the like, the object of the same being to provide in anorganized machine, the parts of which are operated from a single sourceof power, means for cutting the wrapper into proper shape, means forremoving the wrapper from a support or die and carrying and deliveringthe same to wrapping mechanism or wrapper applying mechanism, means forvarying the angle at which the wrapper is delivered to the wra pingmechanism or wrapper applying'mec anism so asto cause the same to beapplied evenly and smoothly to a bunch of irregular thickness, means formoving the end of. the wrapper into contact with the tuck end of thebunch and retaining the same in place until more thanone revolution ofthe bunch has been effected, means for imparting a continuous rotationto the flexible, irregularly-shaped wrapper-applying rolls, means forapplying paste to one of the headers, means for cutting the wrapper atthe head of the cigar, means. for applying power from a main drive-shaftto the various operative parts of the machine, means for applyingsuction to the cutting die, to the hollowl roller cop erating therewithand to the traveling wrapper carrier, means for varying the suction onsaid die, and means for automatically varying the suction in saidroller.

Other objects of the invention will hereinafter appear.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will. be 'explainedin thefollowing description to illustrate one practical form of the machinefor effectively carrying out the sev-l eral operations sought andarriving at the result desired, but it will be understood that theinvention is not limited to the precise organization of elements thatwillbe disclosed as it is intended to adopt any equivalent mechanisms ormechanisms having an analogous operationor function.

In the drawings forming apart of this specification Figure lis a sideelevation, partly in section, of-a cigar machnecon-l section of one endof the-machine; Fi 5 isa detail view of the valve in the suctionpipeleading to the cutting-dieFig. 6 is a detail sectional view of thecutting-die and its bed; Fig.j 7 is a detail perspective view of the bagor catcliin `the scraps from the cutting-mechanism; ig; 8 is atransverse sectional viewtaken through the wrappersupport andthesuction-box beneath the same; Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional viewthrough the same parts; Figs. 10' and 11 are detail views showing thewra per being delivered to the wrapper-applying rolls, and the positionof the tucking-needle at two different times; Fig. 12 is a detailsectional view, showing the wrapper-applying rolls separated; Fig. 13 isan end view of the wrapper-applying rolls shown in operative relation tothe drivilig gear therefor; Fig.

14 is aplan view, a 'g. 15 is an elevation, partly in section, of thewrap er a plying rolls on an enlarged scale; ig. 6 1s a deta-ilviewshowing the paste-cup and the means for forcing the paste therefrom tothe heading-die; Fi 17 is a detail view in sectional elevationo one ofthe wra perapplying rolls on an enlarged scale; Fig. 18 is a detailperspective view of the mechanism for raising and loweringand revolvingthe tucking-needle; Fig. 19 is a crossf cated on. the upper side of saidbed 1. ,The

opening 3 is of greater dimensions than the boss 4 which projectstherethrough, so that said boss is capable of movement longitudinally insaid opening. The bed 1 is also provided on opposite sides of theopening 3 with elongated slots 6, 7, through which extend the bolts 8.in .the plate 5. *The lowei ends of said bolts are provided with nuts 9by means of which the plate 5 may be locked 110 .the bed l.

vwith the opening through the boss 4, and

`said disk is also provided witlra thickened portion on its under sidearound said opening 11, which has formed in it an annular groove,channel or recess 12. r1`his groove 12 receives an annular rib orprojection 13 on the upper face of the plate 5.l Said groove 12 and therib 13 which tits therein serve as a guide tor the disk in its turningImovement on the plate Of course it is obviously within the scope ot myinvention to reverse the positions of the groove 12 and rib 13 toaccomplish the same results. Extending upwardly through the plate 5 isan adjusting bolt 14- which projects through a segmental slot 15 formedin the disk 10 concentric with the opening 11 in said disk. 'lhe upperend of the bolt 14 is provided with a nut by means of which said disk 10may be locked to the plate 5. By loosening said nut, however, the disk10 is capable of turning movement on the plate 5. It will thus be seenthat the disk 10 is capable of axial adjustment on,the plate 5. rlt`hedie 1G, which has the cutting edge at its upper end shaped to conform tothe shape of the wrapper to be cut, is secured to the disk 10 by meansof the brackets 17. The said die extends up through and to a point abovethe table 18, which table is located above and parallel to thtv disk 10,and is secured to said disk by means of the screws 1). Said screws passthrough the tubular spacing blocks 20, which serve to separate and holdin proper relative positions the disk 10 and table 18. The die 16 ishollow, as shown, and communicatesI with the opening 11 at the center ofthe disk 10. lVithin the die 1G and lying in close relation to the innersurface thereof is an u])ivardly-spring-prcssed die bed 21, the sameheilig provided with perfor-ations 2Q, and normally lying insubstantially the same plane with the cutting edge of sa-id die. rl`hesaid bed 21 is secured to the bolts 23, which extend down through thedisk or plate 10, and are provided on their lower ends with nuts 24adapted to engage the under side of said disk 10, for the purpose oflimiting the upward movement of the bed 21. rThe bolts 23 are surroundedby coil springs 25. which serve to maintain the bed Q1 normally at thelimit ot its upward movement, but provide for the yielding of said bedat the proper time. 1t has heretofore been stated that the plate 5 iscapable of loiwitudinal adjustment on the bed 1 of the machine,and thatthe disk 10 is capable of axial adjustment on the plate 5. Said plate 5is also capable of lat eral adjustment on the bed-1the latter adjustmentbeing effected bv the provision of transverse slots 2G in the plate 5,in which the bolts 8 are located. 1t will be obvious that when the nutst) on the lower ends of the bolts 8 are loosened, the plate 5 and theparts carried thereby may be moved transversely of the machine, alongthe slots 2G. The plate 5 is also provided at the corners thereof, or atthree or more ditferent points, with adjusting screws 27, provided forthe purpose of regulating the position of the plane of the upper facethereof` These adjusting screws extend through the plate 5 and areadapted to bear against the upper surface of the bed 1. 1f it be desiredto raise the outer end of the plate 5 or depress the inner end thereof,this result may be etiectedi\by loosening the nuts 9 on the lower endsof the bolts 8, screwing in the two set-screws 27 at the outer end oithe plate 5 and screwing out the two set-screws 27 at the inner end ofthe plate 5. By now tightening the nuts t) on the ends of the bolts 8the plate 5 will be held in its adjusted position. 1t is of courseobvious that by reversing the operation just described the plate 5 maybe tilted in the opposite direction, and it is also obvious that bymeans of the set screws or adjusting screws 27 the plate 5 may be tiltedtransversely of the bed 1 in one direction or the other. New, as theplate 5 is capable of longitudinal and lateral adj ustment on the bed 1,and is capable of tilting adjustment on the bed 1, and as the disk 10 iscapable of axial adjustment on the plate 5, it will be apparent that asthe die 1G is secured to the disk 10 said die may be adjusted bodily,both longitudinally and transversely of the bed of the machine, may beaxially adjusted, and may be' adjusted so as to vary the position orinclination of the plane of the upper cutting edge thereof. Thesevarious adjustments ot' the die 16 are provided for a purpose which willhereinafter appear.

The bed 1 of the machine is provided on one side of the die 16 and table18 with a shelf or extension 28 for receiving and supporting the tobaccoleaves which are to be subsequently cut up yinto wrappers. 1t also hasone end thereof adjacent to the die 1G and table 18 cut away, as shownat 29, and provided with a flange 30 for the attachment of a bag 31 tocatch the scraps or otftalls from the die 16 and table 18. The said bag31 is provided with slotted tabs or lips 32 by means of which said bagmay be removably connected with buttons or projections 33 on the bed 1.

Coperating with the die 16 is a continuously revolving, axiallyrotatable, hollow, preferably cone-shaped member or roller 34, the samehaving closed heads 35, 36, and

provided with a series of perforations 37 Y conforming in arrangementand outer contour with the cutting edge of the die 16. The revolving androtary movements ofthe member or roller 34 are derived from the maindrive-shaft 38 mounted -in suitable bearings in the main frame of themachine and continuously rotated from any suitable source of power. Thevsaid drive-shaft 38 has secured to it a worm-gear'39 which meshes witha worm 40 on a hollow, vertically-disposed shaft or tube 41, the saidshaft being located within, and moving in close contact with the innersurface of, a fixed sleeve 42 extending-through an opening in thev bed.1, and provided with a flange 43 by means of which it is screwed,bolted or otherwise secured to said bed. The hollow upper end of thehollow shaft 41 above the hub 45 is closed by a cap 47. The outer orfree end of the bracket-arm 46 is provided with bearings for the hollowstem 48 of the member or roller 34, and constitutes a support for saidmember or roller. Secured to whose stem'is mounted therein, causing said,5

the flange 43 of the fixed sleeve 42 is a mutilated gear-49 with whichmeshes a pinion 50 on the Astem 48 of the member or roller"34. The hubof the mutilated gear 49 constitutes a support for the hub 45 of thebracket 46 and between these two parts ball-bearings 51 are provided.The hollow stem 48 of the member or roller. 34 has bearings in, and'issupported by, the lower end of the hub 45 j ustwithin the pinion 50.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that as the drive-shaft38 is rotated, it will,` through the worm-gear 39 and worm 40, impart aturning movement to the tubular shaft 41 to which the worm 40 issecured. As the shaft 41 turns, it carries with it the bracket-arm 46and the member or roller 34,

member orroller to revolve about the hollow shaft 41. At the same timethe pinion moves in mesh with the teeth of the mutilated gear 49, and anintermittent rotary movement of said member or roller 34 is ef:

fected! During the revolution of the mem'- ber or roller 34 thesamemoves over and in contact with the upper cutting edge of the die 16, andserves to' cut the tobacco leaf placed upon said die into the propershape for a wrapper.

By means which will be hereinafter described, the wrapper as it is cuton the die 16 is lifted therefrom by the member'or roller 341 Theperforations 37 in the member or roller 34 preferably extend. completelyaround said member or roller, so that 'the opposite ends of the seriesof openings 37 will lie in a plane coincident with the longitudinalcenter or axis of said member or roller. The ear 49 is mutilated inorder to provide for t e rotation of the member or roller 34 while it ispassing over the die 16, and to stop said rotation when said member orroller passes beyond said die. Inorder to prevent any rotary movement ofthemember or roller 34-after the same has passed from the end .of thedie 16 and after the pinion 50 passes from the teeth of the gear 49 tothe mutilated portion thereof, I provide upon the stem 48 of the memberor roller 34 a collar 52 having a fiat face at one point in itsperiphery, the said collar moving in contact with a presser-block 53 onthe end of a spring 54carried by the bracketarm- 46. The -lat face ofthe collar 52 is so disposed that when the member or roller 34 passesfrom the end of the die 16, the same will be opposite ,the presser-block53. The rotation o momentum, is, therefore, instantly arrested as soonas the necessit for its rotation ceases. The 'object -of th1sconstruction will hereinafter appear.

The fixed sleeve 42 heretofore referred to is provided with a lateralextension or nipsaid member or roller, due toa suction pipe 56, in turnconnected with the .main suction-pipe 57. The said sleeve 4.2 .is alsoprovidedwith a lateral extensibn or nipple 58 which is connected,through a flexible pipe or coupling-piece 59, with a lvalve casing 60secured to the under 'side of the boss 4 on the plate 5 andcommunicating with the opening in said boss. Opposite the nipple on the4sleeve 42, the hollow shaft 41 is provided with a series ofperforations 61, and opposite the nipple 58 on the sleeve 42 said shaft41 is provided with a series of perforations 62. Through theperforations 61 the suction from the main suction-pipe 57 may act uponthe interior of the hollo-w shaft 41, and through the perforations 62 inthe shaft 41 the suction from the same source may act upon the valvecasing 60, and through the latter upon the interior of the die 16. Inthe valve Acasing 6 0 tis mounted aA flap-valve 63, the

same being mounted upon a rock-shaft 64 projecting beyond the casing andadapted` to engage a seat 65 when inits closed position. The .said valvevisnormally retained in its closed position, and` after operation isreturned to its closed position, by means of a coil-spring 66 secured atone end to a stationary part of the casingGO and engaging at itsopposite end `a crank 67 on the shaft 64. The said crank 67 is connected-through the pivoted links 68, 69 with the to the center of a shaft 71,extending transversely of the machine and supported when in itsoperative position upon'the base flanges 72 of the legs'or standards 2.'Ihe opposite ends of the shaft 7l are connected through the arms 73 tobrackets '74 on the frame of the machine. By constructing and mountingthe treadle 70 in the manner just described, it will be seen that thesame may be lifted up from its normal position out of the way for thepurpose of cleaning beneath the machine. lVhen shifted to its upperposition, the links 68 and 69 bend at the point of their pivotalconnection with each other and the arms 78 turn on their pivotalconnections with the brackets 74.

When the treadle is in its operative posi tion, as sho-wn in Fig. 1 ofthe drawings, it will be noted that by depressing the inner end thereofthel crank 67 will be rocked and the valve 63 opened. The extent ofopening movement of this valve is thus under the control of theoperator, so that the suction acting upon the under side of the die bed21 within the die may be increased or i decreased, and accuratelyregulated. In order to limit the opening movement of the valve 63,however, I secure to the under side of the valve casing 60 a bracket '75having a set-screw 76 in the horizontal portion thereof, which Set-screwlies within the path of movement of the crank 67 and is engaged by saidcrank when the latter is moved downwardly. By turning the setscrew 76 soas to raise or lower the same, it

will be obvious that the extentof the opening movement of the valve 63may be decreased or increased. Ihe suction acting within the hollowshaft 41 from the main suction-pipe 57, through the connecting pipe 56,nipple 55 and perforations 61, also acts upon the inside of the memberor roller 34 through the hollow stem 48. To eiect this result, thatportion of the stem 48 which is 45 located within .the member or roller34 is provided'with perforations 77. It has heretofore been stated thatthe stem 48 of the member or roller 34 is mounted to turn in bearings inthe outer or free end of the 50 bracket-arm 46 and in the lower end ofthe hub 45.A Said stein communicates with the interior of the hollowshaft 41 by way of af non-rotatable tube 78 whose inner end constitutesthe seat for a valve 7 9. The said y tube 78 is secured to the. hollowshaft 41 in line with the stem 48 and closely abut-s against theadjacent end of said stein. The valve'79cwhicl1 is adapted to seatagainst the'tube 78 is provided for regulating the suction on the insideof the member or roller 34. This is done by increasing and decreasingthe distance between said valve and the inner end .of thec tube 78,which operation of the valve is eftected automatically by the means nowto be described. The said I valve 79 is fulcrumed at 80 to the innerwalL tomaia of the hollow shaft 41, and is connected through a link 81with a lever 82 fulcrumed upon a bracket 83 on the outside of the hub 45of the bracket 46. 7'0 The lower end of the lever 82 carries a roller 84which moves in contact with a cam 85 formed upon or secured to the hubof the fixed gear 49. 'Ihe said roller 84 is retained in Contact withsaid cam by means of the spring 86, which is connected to the lever 82at a point intermediate its ends and to the hub 45. Now, it will beobserved that during the rotation of the hub 45 and the hollow shaft 41,the free end of the lever 82 80 will be moved outwardly and inwardly inaccordance with the irregularities in the curvature of the cam againstwhich the roller 84 on said lever bears. When the lever 82 is movedoutwardly away from the shaft 85. 41, it will obviously move the valve79 in the same direction, and separate the same from the tube 78. Thefull force of the suction in the hollow shaft 41 may then act throughthe stem 48 and perforations 77 90 upon the inside of the member orroller 34. When the lever 82 is moved in the opposite direction, thevalve 79 will be moved in the same direction toward the tube 78. Themouth or entrance to said tube will, therefore, be contracted to anextent `corresponding to the degree of approach of the valve 79 to saidtube, and the suction from the hollow shaft 4l through the stem 48 andperforations 77 on the inside of the member or roller 34 will becorrespondingly decreased. 'Ihe object of this automatic control of orvariation in the suction on the inside of the member or roller 34 willappear as the description proceeds. i

'The mechanism heretofore described relates solely to the means forcutting the wrapper and removing it from the cutting die. In connectionwith these parts there is for the purposes .of illustration shown atraveling support upon which the cut wrap per is delivered and fromwhich said wrapper is delivered atthe proper angle andat the pro erspeed to the wrapper-applying rolls. gaid support is designated by thenumeral 87, and consists of an endless band or apron constructed ofrubber, flexible sheet metal or other suitable material. The same ispreferably provided along its opposite edges with perforations 88 forthe i'eception of teeth or projections 89 on the driving-roller 90around which said apron passes. The object of the perforations 88 andthe coperating teeth 89 is to provide for the positive feed of saidapron or support at the same speed as that of the roller 90. The supportor apron 87 passes around the roller 90 at one end, around the roller orrollers 91 at the opposite end, and around A the guide roller or rollers92 located between 130 the rollers 90 and 91. Atone ormore points in thesurface of the support or apron 87, the same is provided with a seriesof perforations 93 conforming in outer contour with the cutting edge ofthe die 16 and with the outer contour of the perforations 37 in the.

member or roller 34. While but one series of openings or perforations 93has been shown .in the support or apron 87, I propose to use two'seriesor sets of said perforations, and toimpart an intermittent movement tosaid support, which will move the same successively and intermittentlythrough a range ofA movement equivalent to one-half the length thereof.It is obvious, however, that one,

or more than two, of said series of perforations 93 may be provided, ifdesired. In connection with the support or apron 87 I employ aVsuction-box 94 which communi-.

cates with the main suction-pipe 57 through the flexible coupling-piece95 and the passages 96 and 97. The upper surface of the suction-box 94is substantially horizontally disposed, and serves as a support for thesupport or apron 87 whichmovesthereon. The opposite sides of saidsuction-box are curved, as shown at 98 and 99, to-con'form to thecurvature of, and to receive, the rollers,

90 and 91, around which the support orapron 87 passes. An opening 100 isformed in the upper wall of the suction-box 94, in which are arrangedtheparallel wires 101 which extend transversely of the bed of themachinebut longitudinally of the suctionbox. These wires have their upper edgesin the same plane as the upper surface of the imperforate portion ofthetop of the suc.

tion-box 94 and are supported by the-slats 102, which are rigidlysecured in place and extend at right angles to said wires. By thisconstruction it `will be noted that when the perforations 93 in thesupport or apron 87 are located above 'the opening 100 in the4suction-box 94, the suction in said box 94 may act through said openingand through the perforations 93, to retain Ain contact with said supportor apron the wrapper which is delivered thereto from the roller 34. Nosagging or falling of the" support -or apron can take place opposite theopening 100in the suction-box, ast-he same will be supported by thewires 101. Fur# thermore, by the use of said wires 101 friction betweenthe support or apron 87 and.

the top wall of thesuction-box 94 is reduced to a minimum.

The support or apron 87, the suction-box 94, and the parts abovedescribed as coperating therewith, are mounted to bodily move and aredisposed in a longitudinally'movable frame 103 which includes theparallel bars 104 projectingfrom the opposite ends there- A of andmounted to slideiln bearings in the horizontal bars 105 of the mainframe. 'lhe underside of the frame 103 isprovidedA with a rack 106 whichhas meshing therewith a`v toothed sector or segmental rack 107 on theend of a lever 108 fulcrumed in a bracket. 109, and having a vtooth orprojection 110 on its lowery end which moves within a cam groove 111formed in the periphery of-a disk 112 secured to the main drive-shaft.By

this construction it will be seen that; during .l the rotation of themain drive-shaft v'38,

which is constant, the frame 103, on which is mounted the support orapron` 87 will be' moved longitudinally back and forth of the machine.The spee'd and regularity of this movement of this frame may' be4.accurately regulated to suit the ponditions under which the machineoperates by simply varying the sha'pe of the cam groove 111. V A

I have heretofore stated that .anintermittent, irregular movement isimparted to the support or apron 87. One means by which -this may beeffected will now be described.

l base portion thereof provided with an open ing at one end whichsurrounds a vertical shaft 117 mounted to turn .in a horizontal arm 118on the longitudinally movable framev 103, and .acted upon to normallyurgethe same upwardly by a coil spriiig 119, which 'surrounds theshaft'117 and acts upon the,

upper side of the arm 118 and the under4 side of the bracket 116. Theother end Aof thebase'of said'bracket `116. mov'es in cooperation with aguide 120 formed on a ver l tical `portion of4 the longitudinallymovabley lframe 103. {Tlre upper end fgof the' bracket 116 is providedwith. an overhanging portion 1,21', which embraces the shaft 117, and

secured to the pinion 115l is a bevel-pinion .122. Said bevel-pinionmeshes with a similar bevel-pinion 123 splined upon the shaftv 117 so'vthat it is capable of longitudinal movement-thereon but is turnedwith'said shaft. The said pinion 123 is located be tween the base of thebracket 116 and the over-hanging ,portion 121 thereof, and is providedwith an elongated hub 124 by means of which the same is held in itsraised position, the said hub serving to support the pinion 123 by itsengagement with the upper sur-. face of the base ofa the bracket 116.The.

-lower end of the shaft 117 below the arm 118 of the frame 103 isprovided with a bevel-pinion 125, which'meshes wlth a bevel pinion 126splined upon the counter-shaft 127 parallel to and deriving its motionfrom.

the main drive-shaft 38. The Vsaid pinion 126 has its hub provided witha groove 128- in which' are located the bifurcated ends 129 of a forksecured to and projecting. downward'ly from ,the arm 118 of' the frame103.

f of the said bracket 116, due to the action of the spring 119 and theirregularities of the gear 114. lThe main driving shaft 38. is providedat one end with a ymain driving gear 130, having teeth 131 on itsperiphery which -mesh with the teeth of a pinion 132 loosely mounted onthe end of the shaft 127 above referred to. This pinion has secured tothe outer projecting end thereof one member 133 of a clutch, the othermember 134 of said clutch being secured to the end on the counter-shaft127. The two members of said clutch are normally held out of engagementwith each other by means of a spring 135 which is attached to a collar136 loosely mounted in an annular groove in the periphery of the pinion132. The said collar is itself provided with a tooth or projection 137which moves within a cam groove 138 in the outer periphery of the maindriving gear 130. The cam groove 138 is so formed and disposed upon thedriving gear 130 that once during each revolution of said driving gearit will act upon the projection 137 to throw outwardly the clutch member133 into engagement with the clutch member 134. When this takes placethe counter-shaft 127 will be rotated, due to the fact that the pinion132 is constantly in mesh with the teeth 131 of said driving gear. Atthe same time, through the pinions 126, 125, 123, 122,

and 115, the motion of` said shaftgwill be transmitted to the irregulargear 114. Constant contact between the pinion 115 and the irregular gear114 is maintained by the provision of the spring 119, which acts uponthe under side of the bracket 116 in which said pinion 115 is mounted.

While the pinion 115 is in motion7 its speed ofrotation is constant, butas it acts upon the irregular gear 114 it will impart to the shaft 113,to which said irregular gear is secured, an irregular movement. That isto say, when contact is had between the pinion 115 and those portions ofthe gear 114 which are nearest the axis of said gear, a more rapidrotation of the shaft 113 will be effected thanwhen said pinion 115 isin contact with those portions of the gear 114 which are fartherrelnoved from its axis. ltwill be noted from the foregoing that theframe 103 may be moved longitudinally inl either direction withoutdisturbing the gearing described, as the pinion 126 has a connectionwith countershaft 127 which provides for its sliding movement thereon,and it will also be noted that after the clutch member 133 is removedfrom its engagement with the clutch member 134 the. rotation of thecounter-shaft 127 will be stopped, and the movement of shaft 113, andconsequently of the support or apron 87, will be stopped.' By simplemechanism, therefore, I provide for the intermittent operation of thesupport or apron 37 and for the irregular movement of the same while itis in operation. Of course the extent or degree of this irregularmovement of the support or apron, and the time when. the speed is to beincreased or decreased may be readily and accurately controlled byVchanging the shape of the irregular gear 114, by which said irregularmovement is effected.

I have shown but. one way of effecting the variable, intermittentmovements of the supportor apron S7, but do not limit myself to vthespecific means described. My invention contemplates and includes anysuitable mechanism by which an irregular or variable mo-vement may beimparted'to the support or apron and any suit-able means whereby suchmovement may be made intermittently. p

Adjacent to the delivery-end of the support or apron 87 and slightlybelow the roller 91 around which said support or apron passes are thewrappcr-applyiiig-rolls.139 and 140. Five of such rolls have been shown,and I- prefer to use this number, although any suitable number may beused. These rolls are arranged in a cluster with a space at the centerthereof for the reception of the bunch 141 to which'a wrapper from thecarrier 87 is to be applied. Each of said rollers is made up of a rigidcore 142 of metal or other suitable material, which is bent or curved toconform to the shape of the cigar being made, but is provided with astraight portion adjacent to one end. Surrounding the straight portionof each of the cores 142 isatube or sleeve 143 having a pinion 144thereon. Secured to the sleeve 143 of each of said rolls and surroundingthe core 142 are two coil springs 145, 146. The spring 145 is locatedwithin the spring 146 and moves in contact with the curved portion ofthe core 142. As both of said springs, however, are .secured to thesleeve 143 they are, during the rotation of said sleeve, rotatedtogether about the core 142. Secured to and surrounding the outer spring146 is a tubular covering 147 of rubber or other like yielding material.This cover 147 constitutes the working face of each of thewrapper-applying;-rolls, and being of yielding material itself, andbeing mounted upon the two yielding springs 145 and 146, it constitutesa working surface well adapted to the purpose yfor which it. isdesigned. The cores 142 of the rolls 139 are immovable, being secured attheir oppo site ends respectively to the main frame and to the headingJ-aw 148, which is bolted or otherwise secured to said main frame. Thecores 142 of the rolls 140, on the other hand, are capable of bodilymovement toward and away from the rolls 139, the latter cores be.- ingsecured at their opposite ends respectively to the movable jaws 149 and150. The movable jaw 149 constitutes one of the heading jaws, beinglocated Vopposite 'to and coo erating with the fixed heading jaw 148.

lhe jaws 149 and 150 are secured Vto a shaft 151 extendinglongitudinally of the machine and mounted in.xed bearings on the mainframe. Tolthe shaft 151 is secured a crankarm 152, which'is provided atits free end with the pin or projection 153 fitting within a cam groove154 in 'the main driving gear 130. The cam groove 154 is so formed thatthroughout the greater portion of its length it will act to retain :themovable jaws 149 and 150. A in their'innermost positions, with the rolls140 carried thereby -in the positions shown in Figs. '8, 11 and 13 ofthe drawings.

It is,-however, provided at one point with an eccentric1 portion, which,when the same movesA in contact with the vpin 153, serves to rock thearm 152 and the shaft 151,'to

-throw the jaws 149 and 150 outwardly, and

separate the rolls 140 from the rolls 139, as shown in Fig. 12 of thedrawings. f'

When therolls 140 are separated from the rolls '139 the completed cigaror the 'wrapped bunch 141 automaticallyfalls by gravityv from betweenthe wrapper-applying-rolls, and a new-bunch for the` next' cigar to bemade .is introduced by hand between the Wrapper-applying-rolls. Theouter portions or covers of the wrapper-applying-rlls 139, 140 arerotated `uppn their respective cores direct from the driving gear 130,which has4 meshing with it a pinion 155 secured to the end of alongitudinally extending shaft 156. The said shaft 156 is provided witha preferably cone-shaped pinion- 157 which com stantly meshes with thepinions 144 of the three rolls 139, and is adapted to mesh with thepinions 144 ofthe bodily movable rolls 140. When saidwrapper-applying-rolls are in their operative positions, therefore, allof the same are rotated simultaneously and in the same direction. Theshaft 156 is mount-- ed in suitable bearings in the main frame andhasupon its extreme inner end, within the variousWrapper-applying-rolls, a cutter 158 designed for the purpose ofsevering' any projecting portions of the wrapper at the tuck of thecigar. This cutter 158 may be of any suitable form and construction. Ihave,

however', shown the same in the form of a sleeve, secured to the shaft156 and having an annular proiecting cutting edge designed to move incontact with the inner walll of .one of the wrapperapplying-rolls. To,ac-

applying-rolls will be bent inwardly opposite the cutter 158 to agreater ei'itent than the others.

In connection with the wrapper-applyingrolls and the means fordelivering the wrapper to said rolls, which have been described above, Iemploy a tucking needle 159, de-

signed to engage the .forward end of themovement, and a revolvingmovement. The

means provided by me for this purpose consistsof a bar 160 mounted toslide longitudinally in suitable guide-ways in the main frame, andprovided at one end with a tooth or in 161 fitting within a cam groove162 in 51e main driving gear 130, through which cam groove and pin a lon'tudinal movement may be imparted to said bar. The bar 160 has mountedfor independent longitudinal movement on the under side thereof, a Slide163, the same being' provided at one end with a. pin 164- which litswithin a lcam groove y'165 in the main driving gear 130. As one means ofmounting the slide 163 on .the'bar 160, I form in theunder side of saidbar a dove-tailed groove 166in which acorrespondingly-shaped portieriIof the slide 163 fits. The said slide 163 is therefore supported fromand by the bar 160, and is capable of longitudinal movement independentof said bar. The cam grooves 162 and 165 in the main drivin gear 130 areso formed and disposed that uring the rotation .of said gear in thedirection of the arrow shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, said grooves"will first act upon the pins 161 and 165 simultaneously so as to moveboth the bar 160 and the slide 163 outwardly or toward the support 87 atthe same time. These parts will also be held by said cam groovesoutwardly and to ether at thesame time. As the rotation o the gear130proceeds, however, the incline 166 in the ve 165 will act .upon

the pin 164 before the incline 167 in the groove 162 acts upon the in161. The result is that the slide 163 will be drawn back to its normalretracted position prior to the bar 160. The bar 160 has secured to itand extending upwardly therefrom a bearingblock or sup ort 168 inwhich'is mounted the rock-sha 169, the same extending at right angles tothe bar toward the shaft 156 vheretofore referred to.- The said rockratshaft is provided at a point intermediate its' ends with flattenedportion170, which is embraced by the branches of a iork 171 'iso formedupon the upper end of an arm 172 secured to the slide 163, as clearlyshown in Figs. 18 and 19 of the drawings. By this construction it willbe seen that when the bar 160 and the slide 163 are moved longitudinallyindependently of each other, a rocking movement will be imparted to theshaft 169. To provide an additional support and bearing for the shaft-169 beyond the block 168, I secure to said block a bracket or rod 173which extends outwardly therefrom, and is formed with an arm 174 throughwhich the shaft 169 passes and in which it is supported. The outer endof the rock-shaft 169 is formed or provided with a two-part strap orfork 175 in which is supported and mounted to turn the disk or collar176, to which the tucking needle 159 is secured. The said disk or collar176 is provided with an elongated or elliptical opening 177 throughwhich a sleeve 178, loose upon the shaft 156, passes. The said disk orcollar 176 is pivoted to the sleeve 178, as shown in Fig. 19, the pivot179 therefor extending from the centers of the elongated sides of theslot 177. It will thus he seenthat when the shaft 169 is rocked in' itsbearing in one direction or the other, the disk 17 6 carrying the needle159 wili also he rocked on its pivot 179, the elongated slot 177providing for this rocking movement of said disk without interferencewith the shaft 156 or the sleeve 178 thereon.

The disk 17 6 surrounds the shaft 156 ata point between the cutter 158and the pinion 157 onsaid shaft. Located between the disk 176 and thecutter 158, and secured to the shaft 156, is a continuously rotatingneedlerotator 180, the same being shown in the form of a disk or wheelhaving a notch or recess 181 at one point in its periphery. Cooperatingwith the needle-rotator 180 is a needle-guide 182, the same beingprovided with a substantially circular portion 183 at its lower endwhich embraces the disk 180, and having an elongated inverted U-shapedcontracted portion 184 at its upper end. The said guide is supported andprevented from turning movement by means of a rod j 185, which issecured to' a portion of the fra-me of the machine. Now, the normalpositions of the different parts above referred to, when the pins orteeth 161 and 164, are in the main portions of the cam grooves 162 and165 respectively, are as shown in Figs.

18 and l19 of the drawings. That is to say, they needle 159 is raisedand the free end of said needle is withdrawn from the tuck-end of thebunch 141 within the wrapper-applying-rolls 139 and 140. As the supportor apron 87, however, begins to deliver a wrapper over the roller 91,the cani grooves 162 and -165 act upon the pins 161 and 164, to move thebar 160 and the slide 163 outwardly toward the wrapper-applying-rollssimultaneously. During this operation the invasie needle 159 is movedlongitudinally while still in elevated position to a point in which thefree end thereof lies above the projecting end of the wrapper and abovethe tuck-end of the bunch. The relative positions of the wrapper and ofthe needle 159 at this time are illustrated in Fig. 10 ofthe drawings.When the needle is raised it lies within the contracted portion 184 ofthe needle-guide 'end of the needle 159 downwardly. When said needle ismoved downwardly, it carries with it the projecting end of the wrapperwhich is being delivered from the carrier87, and'forces the same intocontact with the tuck end of the bunch 141. The

needle remains in this position until something more than one rotationof the bunch 141 takes place, in. o-rder that the wrapper may completelyencircle the bunch and thereafter be able to hold itself in placethereon. In order that said needle may remain in contact with thewrapper and hold 'the same in contact with the bunch 141 while thelatter y,is rotating, said needle must rotate or revolve with saidbunch. This movement of the needle is effected by the needle rotator180, which, as heretofore stated, is secured to the rotating shaft 156.l/Vhen said needle is depressed or moved downwardly in the manner justdescribed, it seats itself within the notch 181 of the rotator 18.0, andis then turned by the latter.

This revolving movement of the needle is permitted by reason of the factthat the disk 17 6 to which said needle is secured, is

mounted to turn in the strap A175, and by lbunch has been turnedsomethingvover one complete revolution, and t-he wrapper has becomefastened thereto independently of the needle 159, the incline 167 on thedriving gear v130 comes in Contact with the pin 161 on theend of the bar160, and serves to retract said bar or move the same toward said drivinggear. As the rock-shaft 169 is connected through the block 168 with thebar 160, and as the needle 159 is connected through the disk 176 and thestrap 175 with said rock-shaft, when the bar 160 is moved in thedirection thus described it will carry with it the needle 159, inovingthe same away from the tuck end of the cigar in course of being wrapped.It will thus be seen that when the end of a Wrapper is being deliveredto the wrapper-applying-rolls, the needle 159 in its raised position isfirst moved outwardly toward the bunch, is then depressed so as to forcethe end of the wrapper into contact with the bunch, is then vre- Ivolved with the bunch while still in contact openings 188 which registerwith each other with the wrapper until said bunch has been turned morethan one complete revolution,

and is finally withdrawn from the wrapper and bunch in a directlongitudinal line so as to prevent the breaking or cracking of thewrapper. y

The stationary jaw 148 which I have heretofore referred to as a headingjaw, is provided with a cutter 186, and the movable heading jaw 149 isprovided with a cutter 187 which coperates with the 4cutter 186. Thesecutters are provided for the purpose of clipping the head of a cherootor for severing from the pointed head of a cigar the prviecting portionsof the wrapper at this point. The said cutters are provided with whenthe jaw 149 is in` its closed position, and which lie' in line with theaxis of the bunch 141 at the head thereof. When the jaw 149 is separatedfrom the jaw 148 by the means heretofore described, just prior to theautomatic delivery of the completed cigar, the cutting edges of thecutters 186 and 187, which are formed around the openings 188', arebrought into coperative relation to each other and serve to sever theprojecting end of the wrapper from thecigar, or to cut the head in theformat-ion of a cheroot. The diameter of the o-penings 188will varyaccording to the character of the cut to be made. For example, if it isdesired to clip ofi' the head of the product to form a cheroot, theopenings 188 will be of comparatively large size, whereas if it bedesired merely to sever the projecting end of the wrapper from the headof a cigar, the openings 188 will be exceedingly small. This, however,is a mere detail of constructio-n.

Mounted at any suitable point on the frame of the machine is a paste cup189, leading from which is a pipe 190 which comshown. This connectionbetween the paste cup and the heading jaw is for the purpose ofsupplying paste at the head end of the per in place at that point. Inorder to provide a positive feed 'of the paste to the jaw 148 throughthe pipe 191, Irmount in said pipe a plunger 192, which is adapted to bemoved back and forth across the point of intersection of the pipes 190and 191. This plunger is secured to an arm 198, connected with the bar160 heretofore referred to. The said bar 160, it will be remembered, hasimparted to it an intermittent, longitudinal movement.v During thismovement of said bar, the plunger 192 will be reciprocated back andforth in the pipe 191 in a manner readily understood. The pipe 190 isslightly inclined from the paste cup 189 to its point lof connectionwith the pipe 191, so that there will be a constant flow of paste fromsaid cup to the pipe 191. The paste is free to enter the latter pipe 191when the plunger 192 is in its retracted position, as shown in Fig. 16of the drawings. When said plunger is moved in the opposite direction,however, it will carry with it the paste which had previously enteredsaid pipe 191, and force the same through the latter pipe to the jaw148, through which it is delivered to the head end ofthe bunch.A'positive and intermittent supply of paste is thus delivered to thebunch. In order to regulate the quantity of paste delivered by theplunger 192, I provide means for adjusting the position of said plungerin the arm 193, so as to regulate the stroke thereof. The plunger 192 isprovided with screw-threads 194 which Y mesh with correspondingscrew-threads in the arm struction it will be obvious that by looseningthe lock-nut 196 the plunger 192 may be turned in the arm 193, so as tocause the same to move toward c-r away from the end of the pipe 191.When adjusted forwardly or toward the end of the pipe 191, it will beseen that the head of the plunger'will, during the operation of the bar160, be moved to a greater distancel beyond the point of connection ofthe pipe 190 with said .pipe 191. Consequently an increased supply ofpaste will be delivered to the jaw 148. When the plunger 192 is adjustedin the opposite direction, however, it will, during the operation of thebar 160, be moved to a less degree beyond the point of intersection ofthe pipe 190 and the .pipe 191, and consequently a less supplyv oflpaste will be delivered to the jaw 148.

. of the series of perforations 93 in the support or apron 87 will alsobe made to correspond to the shape 0f the die 16. These perforar ions 93will be so arranged in the apron 87 that when said support or apron isat rest during the periods between the intermittent movements of thesame, the forward .87, said series of perforations will exactly registerwith the series of perforations 93.

To properly effect this result, it is generally advisable to form theperforations 37 in the member or roller 34 after the perforations 93have been formed in the support or apron 87, and after said support orapron has been moved to the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings,for it will be readily understood that no relative adjustment of thesetwo parts can lafterward be made. rlhe die 1G then has its positionadjusted so that the cutting edge thereof will register with the outeredges of the series of perforations 37 in the member or roller 34 whenthe latter is moved over said die. To effect this result said die ismounted for longitudinal, lateral, and axial adjustment on the bed ofthe machine, and the same is also adapted to have the plane of itscutting edge adjusted so that all portions thereof will be engaged bythe surface of the member or roller 34 when the latter moves over it. Itwill be understood that the member or roller for removing the. wrapperwill operate with any suitable means for holding a wrapper in positionto be picked up, although illustrated in connect-ion with a die on whichthe wrapper is cut and from which it is picked up.

During the operation of the machine, the I drive-shaft 38 iscontinuously rotated from any suitable source of power, and by the meansheretofore described a continuous revolving movement is imparted to themember or i'oller 34 from said drive-shaft. Said member or rollerA isthus caused to pass suc` cessively over the die 16 and the support orapron 87. lWhile passing over said die and over said support or apron, arotary or axial turning movement is imparted to said member or roller. Just before the member or roller 34 reaches the die 16, a tobacco leaf isplaced upon the die.16 by the operator and the treadle is depressed,which action opens the valve 63, and permits the suction to act upon theunder side of said leaf` through the perforations i2 in the die-bed 21.The said leaf is thereby iirmly held in place upon the die. The degreeof suction may be accurately cont-rolled by opening the valve 63 to agreater or less extent. As a matter of fact` while the member o1l roller34 is pass- :Loaders ing over said die, the valve 63 is but par# tiallyopen, so that the suction acting upon the under side of the leaf is lessthan that acting within the member or roller 34. )The said member orroller 34 upon reaching the die 16 cooperates with the cutting edgethereof to sever the leaf along said cutting edge to produce a wrapperof the desired shape. At the same time, it lifts the wrapper as it iscut from the die 16, the same being caused to adhere to said roller byreason of the fact that the suction within said roller is greater thanthat within said die. lVhile passing over said die, the pinion 50 on thestem 48 of the member or roller 34 is in mesh with the teeth of themutilated gear 49, and an axial turning movement is imparted to saidmember or roller. This turning movement, however, ceases as soon as thevmember or roller 34 passes from the end of the die 1G, as at that timethe pinion 50 passes into the mutilated portion of t-he gear 49 and thepresser-block 53 comes into engagement with the flattened portion of thecollar 52. During this time the suction from themain suction-pipe 57is'acting through the flexible coupling-piece 95 and the suction-box 94upon the under side of the carrier or apron 87. f

As the member or roller 34 continues its revolving movement from the die16 to the support or apron 87, with the wrapper adhering to the surfacethereof, the suction within said member or roller .34 is autom aticallydecreased 'by reason of the fact that the roller 84 on the lever 82,moving in contact with the lower portion o-f the cam 85, is drawninwardly by the spring 86, and the valve 79 is moved toward the tube 78,through Whichthe suction passes. to the inside of the stem 48, andthence through the perforations 77 to the inside of the member or roller34. vlhen said member or roller 34 reaches the support 87, therefore,the force of the suction beneath said support is greater than thatwithin said member or roller. Consequently when contact takes placebetween the ymember or roller 34 and the support 87,

or rather between the wrapper on said member or roller 34 and saidsupport, the said wrapper is stripped from the member or roller 34,through the action of the suction beneath the support 87 which is ofgreater force .than that within the member or roller 34. The result isthat after said member or rollerpasses beyond the support 87, thewrapper will have been removed' being moved outwardly on thecountershaft 127 into engagement with the clutch member 134, due tothefact that the pin or projection 137 on the collar 136 is engaged by oneof the'inclines in the cam groove 138.

The counter-shaft 127 is thus caused to rotate, and the same transmitsitsmovement to thel support 87 thro-ugh the pinions 126 and 125, theshaft 117, the pinions 123 and 122, and the pinion 115, which isretained in const'ant yielding engagement with the irregular gear 114,which is secured to the shaft 113, to which the driving roller 90 forthe support 87 is secured. This forward movement of the support iscontinued until the clutch members 133 and 134 arey separated from eachother, .which separation is designed to take place when the support 87has moved a distance equal to one-half its total length. The saidmovement of the support 87 is effected at an irregular speed,

ldue to the fact thatit is driven from the irregular gear 114whichirregular speed of movement is designed for the purpose of enabling thewrapper to be fed to the bunch in such manner that it may be wrappedsmoothly and evenly thereon. That is to say, when the wrapper is beingapplied to a narrow portion of the cigar, its speed will becomparatively slow, whereas, when it is being applied to a thick portionof the cigar, it will be more rapid.

It will be noted that when the support 87 with a wrapper adhering to itsupper surface is started, the wrapper will be delivered at varyingspeeds over the roller 91 to the wrapper-applying-rolls 139, 140. Atfirst the forward end of the wrapper is delivered from the end of thecarrier 87, and as the support continues its movement, the whole of thewrapper is nally discharged from the upper surface thereof. As soon,however, as a portion of the wrapper passes from the support over theroller 91, that portion is immediately-released andrendered free, due tothe fact that the suction from the suction-box 94 is cut off therefrom.The suction remains in force on the rest of the wrapper, and holds thesame in firm contact .with the support 87 until it passes over theroller 91. As long as any portion of the wrapper, therefore, remainsupon the upper surface-of the support, it is held firmly in place, butas soon as any portion of the wrapper passes from the end of'saidsupport, itI is relieved from the suction in suction-box 94, and 'freeto be operated upon by the other mechanisms. This is an importantfeature in the construction and operation of my machine.

lVhen the end of a wrapper is delivered from the support 87 over theroller 91, it is at once acted upon by the tucking needle 159, which atthis time is in its forward position. as shown in Figs. 10, 14, and 15of the drawings. The free end of said needle is moved downwardly by theengagement of the incline 166 of the cam groove 165 with the pin orprojection 164 on the slide 163,

which action retracts said slide 163 independently of the bar 160, andthrough the forked bracket arm 172 rocks the shaft 169. The end of thewrapper is thereby moved down into contact with the bunch 141, and thesame is held in contact with said bunch until the latter has been turnedsomething more than one complete revolution, by reason of the fact thatthe needle 159, while still in its forward position, is revolved aboutthe bunch. This revolving action of the needle is effected by the needlerotator 180, which is secured to the shaft 156, and is provided with anotch or recess 181 in which said needle is seated when thas-ame ismoved downwardly by the means above referred to. When the Wrapper hasbeen wrapped a little more than once around the bunch 141 at the tuck ofthe cigar, so=that thereafter it may retain itself in place upon saidbunch, the needle 159 is moved bodily outward away from said bunch in adirect longitudinal line by the engagement of the incline 167 of the camgroove 162 with the pin or projection 161 on the bai" 160, which actionmoves said bar and the needle 159 which is indirectly connectedtherewith toward the main driving gear 130. The wrapper has now. beenstarted upon thc bunch 141, but it is necessary'to do more than merelydeliver saidwrapper in a direct line with the support 87 thereto. It isnecessary that the angle of presentation of the wrapper" to the bunch bevaried in accord'- ance with the particular shape of the cigar in courseof manufacture. This variation in the angle of presentation of =thewrapper to the bunch is effected by the bodily movement of the wrappersupport frame 103 lony gitudinally of the main frame, in connection withthe progressive, intermittent, irregular movement of the support 87itself. As heretofore stated, the frame 103 has longitudinal movementimparted to it-by the cam groove 111 in the periphery'of the disk 112,secured to the main drive-shaft 38, and the lever 108, which has a pin110 fitting within the groove 111, and has a segmental' gear 107 at itsupper end, which meshes with a rack 106 on the frame 103. The said camgroove 111 is so shaped and arranged upon the disk 112 that when thesupport 87 first begins its progressive movement. it will move the lever108 so as to project the frame 103 forwardly or toward the main drivinggear 130 until the tuck of the cigar has been formed and the needle 159is withdrawn from the bunch and the wrapper on the end 7 degree andspeed of said movement is variable and is determined by the shape of thecigar being formed.

The angular presentation of the wrapper to the rotating bunch iscontrolled by the movement of the frame 103 longitudinally of thewrapper applying mechanism, and the speed of movement of this frame andthe feeding belt or wrapper feeder carried by the frame is controlled orvaried by the,

configuration of the cam race 111 in the cam 112, the illustration'given being sufficient to indicate variation in the speed of movement 0fthe frame and the apron, support or wrapper feeder carried by it. Itwill be observed that the cam race or groove 111 is curved, and thiscurvature causes a variation of movement or swing of the arm 108, andthrough this arma similar variation of movement is -imparted to theframe-103. The wrapper applying mechanism of this machine, or the meanscontrolling the winding of a wrapper around a cigar bunch is illustratedand explained as comprising a plurality of rolls, a part of which arecarried by an opening and closing jaw, but it should be understood thatthe machine is not limited 'in its practical operation to this preciseform of wrapper applying mechanism. With the wrapper applying mechanismmeans for feeding a wrapper thereto and operating to project successiveportions beyond the said feeding means is used so that the wrapper willbe introduced into the wrapper applying mechanism without the exertionof drawing tension on the wrapper by the rolls of the wrapper applyingmechanism and as an effective auxiliary the feeding means, feeder, orfeeding device controlling the delivery of the wrapper into the wrapperapplying mechanism is preferably subjected to suction action, ashereinbefore explained. Furthermore, the wrapper is y fed to the wrapperapplying mechanism by a movement independent of the movement of thewrapper applying mechanism in contradistinction to a drag feed from thesupport for the wrapper, or in the present instance the wrapper is movedby a portion of the support from the surface of the latter, or thecarrying surface of the support changes from one plane to another toprogressively present the wrapper into delivery position to the wrapperapplying mecha-4 nism. Hence the wrapping mechanism of this machine, asshown, includes not only Wrapping rollers but also a feed belt anddevices for transferring the wrapper from the support for'the Wrapper tothe wrapping apparatus feed belt and also a device for holding the freeend of the'wrapper while it is wound around the bunch. This altogetherconstitutes the wrapping apparatus of the machine. It may well be thatwrapping mechanism in a bunch wrapping nomme machine may be made withless than so many unitary parts as just specified. Also, it may be 'thatthe Wrapper supporting and presenting and delivering devices may pre-Sent and deliver the wrapper to different unitary parts of the wrappingmechanism.

Consequently, this machine is not limited inthe least to any specificwrapping apparatus, nor to the presentation or delivery of the wrapperto any particular unit of the wrapping apparatus.

. The object of this means for varying the angle of presentation of thewrapper to the bunch is to enable the wrapper to beapplied evenly andsmoothly to those portions of thebunch which are tapering,A orincreasing or decreasing in size. For example, if a cigar of theperfecto type is being made, in which both the tuck and the head arepointed, it will be necessary after the wrapper has been applied alittle more than once around the tuck end of the cigar to move the'frame 103 outwardly or away from the driving gear 130 until the maximumthickness of the cigar has been reached. Then the frame 103 willnecessarily be moved in the opposite direction to apply the wrapper tothe tapering end of the cigar extending from the point'of its maximumthickness to the head. AUlf course, if a cigar is beingl formed in whicha portion of the same is cylindrical, it will be unnecessary to move theframe 103 longitudinally while the wrapper is being applied to saidvcylindrical portion. The extent, time and direction of movement of theframe 103 may be varied to.

144 'on said rolls. v`While the wrapper is being delivered from thesupport 87 to the bunch 14:1, therefore, the said rolls 139 and 140 arecontinuou'sly rotating, and impart -a similar rotation to' the bunch1111 located within the same. When, however, the wrapper has beenapplied to all portions of the cigar, including the head, one of theinclines in the cam groove 154 is brought into engagement with the pin153 on the crank 152 secured to the shaft 151, to which the movable jaws149 and 1,50 areconnected, with the result that said shaft is rocked andsaid jaws 149 and150 with the rolls 140 carried thereby are separatedfrom the rolls 139. The cutters 186 and 187 are thereby opera-ted, theprojecting end of the wrapper at the head of the cigar, or the headitself, is clipped from the body of the cigar, and the completed productis allowed to fall by gravity from within the rolls 139 and 140 into asuitable receptacle de-` signed to receive the same.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that I have produceda machine which is entirely automatic in its action except for the handmanipulation necessary in placing the tobacco leaf iipon the die 16, inplacing the bunch within the wrapperapplying rolls 139, 140, and inoperating the valve 63. All the other operations of cutting the wrapper,lifting the same from the cutting die, regulating the tension of thesuction in the member or roller 34, delivering the wrapper from themember or roller to the support or apron 87, imparting to said support,an intermittent, irregular movement toward the wrapper-applying rolls,and an irregular bodily movement in the direction of the length of saidrolls, advancing, lowering, revolving, and retracting the tucking needlefor the purpose of applying the wrapper to the tuck end of the cigar,rotating the wrapper-applying rolls and actuating the cutters for thehead of the cigar, as well as cutting the projecting portions of thewrapper at the tuck of the cigar,.and applying paste to the bunch at thehead of the cigar, are performed entirely by the machine itself,irrespective of any action on the part of the operator.

The wrapper-applying rolls 139, 140, are preferably formed withroughenedV outer surfaces, so as to provide means for positivelyapplying the wrapper to the bunch 141 without slipping. This rougheningof the surfaces of said rolls may be produced by corrugating the same asshown, which corrugations may. extend throughout the length of the rollsor be located only at the tuck end thereof. When said corrugations arelocated only at the tuck end of the rolls, they will serve to crimp thewrapper on the bunch in imitation of a Spanish hand-made cigar.

It is obvious of course that the wrappercarrier 87 and the partscoperating therewith may be employed upon cigar machines of otherconstruction than that herein shown, for the purpose of receiving a cutwrapper from any source and delivering theapron, and means for impartinga variable speed of rotation to said rollers.

2. In a cigar machine, the combination with the main driving gear andwrapper applying mechanism, vvof a traveling apron constituting awrapper-feeder or presenting means, rollers around which said .apronpassesgand from which it derives its movement toward said wrapperapplying mechanism, a shaft to which one of said rollers is secured, anirregular gear secured to said shaft, and operative connections bet-Weensaid driving gear and said irregular gear whereby a variable speed ofmovement is imparted to said carrier.

3. In a cigar machine, the combination with the main driving gear andwrapper applying mechanism, ota traveling apron constituting awrapper-feeder or presenting means rollers around which said apronpasses, and from which it derives itsmovement toward said wrapperapplying mechanism, a shaft to which one of said rollers is secured, anirregular gear secured to said shaft, .operative connections betweensaid driving gear and ysaid irregular gear, and means for automaticallythrowing said connections intermittently into and out ot' operation.

4. In a cigar machine, the combination with the main driving V gear andwrapper applying mechanism, of a traveling apron constituting a wrapperfeeder or presenting means, rollers around which said apron passes, andfrom which itderives its movement toward said wrapper applyingmechanism, a shaft to which one of said rollers is secured, an irregulargear secured to said shaft, operative connections between said drivinggear and said irregular gear, a clutch for intermittently throwing saidconnections into and out ot operation, vand means for automaticallyactuating said clutch.

5. In a citgar machine, the combination with the main driving gear andwrapper applying mechanism, of a. traveling apron constituting a'wrapper-carrier, rollers around which said apron passes, and from whichit derives its movementI toward said wrapper applying mechanism, a shaftto

